Artist Reception at MAE

Meet the Author B. J. Schwartz (Bret Terrell) | Tuesday, July 18th | 2:00 pm
Bring your camera, purchase a book and take your picture with Max XX, The Malamute and Children’s Book Author, “Plumery Tails”,  B. J. Schwartz (Bret Terrell)

Bret  moved from St. Paul, MN to Iowa with his fiancé in 2007. During the winter months he wrote poetry just as he did as a young man. He wrote a book and went to some local publishers who suggested with his poetry to write children’s books. Not sure if that was the direction he wanted to take, he had to ponder the idea.  Later on that evening he was at his computer with his k-9 companion Max by his side. Here is where he created the idea to write stories about a young boy and his Alaskan malamute. He wrote 7 books in “The Adventures of Max & I” series, each one more progressive than the next utilizing challenging words for children to learn from and providing a glossary in the back for their reference. A strong fan base resulted as they visited malls, schools and many functions spreading the word of the books. 
During the height of the popularity of his books, Max passed due to bone cancer. Devastated, he did not want to go on with the “Adventure”.  He was encouraged by friends, teachers and home school students about continuing the books as they were so entertaining and educational they must go on.   He went to look for a new protagonist, when he showed up at the breeder he fell in love with not just one boy, but two Alaskan malamutes. This birthed the next series “Plumery Tails”,  The Adventures of Lil’ Maxx and Bear. There are now three series geared more for the teen years.  

Visit http://maquoketa-art.org/upcoming-events/ for more information.